The Ultimate South Island Tour
12 Days of Adventure
Because New Zealand is about two thirds the size of California, there’s a delicate balance between seeing and experiencing as much of the country as you can and spending too much time in the trip vehicle. With that in mind, we specifically designed The Ultimate South Island Tour for active people looking to experience the best of New Zealand in 12 adventure filled days, while at the same time keeping the driving component to a minimum. We originally sold this tour to National Geographic Expeditions and from 2013 to 2019 we guided over 600 of their guests on this tried and tested itinerary showcasing New Zealand’s most dramatic alpine scenery. Past National Geographic guests have loved this tour and told us that we have the balance of activities, drive times, accommodation and meals just right.
Trip Overview
Trip Duration: 12 days
Starts: Nelson
Ends: Queenstown
Trip Rating: Moderate
Ages: 10-80+
Accommodation: Comfortable 4-star hotels and lodges for eleven nights.
Highlights include:
Two nights at a wilderness ecolodge in Abel Tasman National Park
Sea kayak from the lodge along the coast of the National Park and in to a Marine Reserve
Take an exhilarating rafting trip through the granite gorges of the Buller River
Hike in Paparoa National Park amoung impressive limestone formations
Two nights in Franz Josef Glacier in Westland National park allows the opportunity to spend a full day exploring the area with an optional heli hike high up on the glacier and/or a scenic heli flight over the glaciers
Fly by helicopter into the remote Siberia Valley in Mt Aspiring National Park. Hike for 2 to 3 hours in total wilderness below snowcapped peaks before boarding a jetboat for a fast and thrilling ride down river out of the wilderness
Two nights in the lakeside township of Wanaka
Hike up to a glacier in Mt Aspiring National Park
Hike a section of the Keplar Track in Fiordland National Park
Two nights in the lakeside township of Te Anau
Visit Fiordland National Park and take a scenic boat ride in Milford Sound, a majestical fjord where towering mountains rise skyward from the sea. Then hike a section of the famous Routeburn Track In Mt Aspiring National Park
Finish in Queenstown, with the option to spend a few extra days there, or join an exclusive guided hike on the Milford, Routeburn, or Hollyford Tracks
Dates & Prices
2025-2026 Departure Dates
February 3 to 14, 2025: 4 spaces left
February 17 – 28, 2025: sold out
March 3 – March 14, 2025: sold out
December 20 – 31, 2025*
January 12 to 23, 2026
January 26 to February 6, 2026
February 16 – 27, 2026: sold out
March 2 – March 13, 2026: sold out
*NZD 800/person Christmas holiday surcharge
Payments & Cancellations
Please see our Payments and Cancellations page for details.
2024-2025 Price
NZD 9,990 Double Occupancy
NZD 2,400 Single Occupancy Supplement
What To Expect
-
Activities
Hiking 3-10 km’s (2-6 miles) per day, kayaking 4 to 5 hours, and whitewater rafting on Class III-IV rapids.
-
Lodging
Comfortable, contemporary, and amenity-laden hotels, mostly situated within spectacular natural settings. Minimum of 4 star rating.
-
Climate
Temperatures can vary between 10C to 32C (50F to 90F) during the day and can include sunshine, rain, and even snow at higher altitudes.
Optional add-ons on day 7 in Franz Josef Glacier:
i) Heli hike
ii) Scenic helicopter flight over Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
Both activities are weather dependent on the day, so are not included in the tour price as they can not be guaranteed to proceed.
Optional post trip add-ons from Te Anau on day 12
Join an exclusive multi-day guided hike on:
i) the Milford Track (5 days, 4 nights): hike 54 km/33.5 miles
ii) the Routeburn track (3 days, 2 nights): hike 32km/20.1 miles
iii) the Hollyford Track (3 days, 2 nights): hike 39.5 km/ 24.5 miles. Includes a wilderness jetboat ride and scenic heli-flight out to Milford Sound